Surprise Lake Camp
Surprise Lake Camp maintains stable assets and reports no officer compensation, despite recent deficit spending.
EIN: 131623869 · Cold Spring, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $6.0M |
| Total Expenses | $4.5M |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $13 |
| Net Assets | $13.2M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Surprise Lake Camp Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Surprise Lake Camp directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Surprise Lake Camp
Surprise Lake Camp (EIN: 131623869) is a nonprofit organization based in Cold Spring, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $6.0M and total assets of $13.8M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Surprise Lake Camp's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Surprise Lake Camp is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 103 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 0.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $3.8M |
| Total Expenses | $4.5M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-690,652 |
| Total Assets | $14.0M |
| Total Liabilities | $853K |
| Net Assets | $13.2M |
| Operating Margin | -18.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 6.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 37.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Surprise Lake Camp reported a deficit of $691K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 37.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 6.1% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Surprise Lake Camp's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -29.0% | +8.4% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | +37.8% | -6.4% | -16.2% |
| 2021 | +84.3% | +119.5% | +7.6% |
| 2020 | -53.4% | -55.9% | +9.5% |
| 2019 | +8.5% | -0.6% | +7.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1923 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Surprise Lake Camp with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 7%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 3%
According to IRS 990 filings, Surprise Lake Camp allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 7%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 3%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $691K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 6.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size with assets exceeding $13 million. This suggests either a volunteer-led executive team or that compensation is categorized differently, but as reported, it indicates a very lean administrative cost structure at the top.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Surprise Lake Camp's IRS 990 filings:
- Recent deficit spending in 2023 ($690,652 more in expenses than revenue)
- Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation across all filings, which may obscure actual executive costs if categorized elsewhere.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Surprise Lake Camp:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating efficient use of funds at the executive level.
- Stable asset base, consistently above $13 million over the past decade.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 periods), demonstrating transparency.
- Relatively low liabilities compared to assets, indicating financial stability.
Frequently Asked Questions about Surprise Lake Camp
Is Surprise Lake Camp a legitimate charity?
Surprise Lake Camp (EIN: 131623869) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $6.0M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Surprise Lake Camp spend its money?
Surprise Lake Camp directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 3%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Surprise Lake Camp tax-deductible?
Surprise Lake Camp is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131623869). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Surprise Lake Camp CEO make?
Surprise Lake Camp's highest-compensated officer earns $13 annually. The organization reported $6.0M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Surprise Lake Camp's spending goes to programs?
Surprise Lake Camp directs 90% to programs, 3% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Surprise Lake Camp located?
Surprise Lake Camp is headquartered in Cold Spring, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 131623869.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Surprise Lake Camp have?
Surprise Lake Camp has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $6.0M in total revenue.
Is Surprise Lake Camp a good charity?
Based on the provided data, Surprise Lake Camp appears to be a good charity. It consistently reports 0% officer compensation, indicating a strong commitment to directing funds to its mission. Its assets are stable, and it has a long history of IRS filings.
What caused the deficit in 2023?
The provided data does not specify the exact causes for the $690,652 deficit in 2023 (Expenses $4,502,065 vs. Revenue $3,811,413). It could be due to increased program costs, decreased donations, or a strategic investment, but further detail from the full 990 would be needed.
How does Surprise Lake Camp manage without officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly unusual for an organization of this scale. It suggests either a fully volunteer executive leadership, or that executive salaries are categorized under other expense lines, or paid by a related entity not reflected in this specific line item. Without further detail from the full 990, the exact mechanism is unclear, but it implies a very low direct executive overhead.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Surprise Lake Camp showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Surprise Lake Camp's revenue has grown by 6.9%, moving from $3.6M to $3.8M. Total assets increased by 37.6% over the same period, from $10.2M to $14.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 21.3%, from $3.7M to $4.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Surprise Lake Camp reported a deficit of $691K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $853K in liabilities against $14.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 6.1%), resulting in net assets of $13.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $3.8M | $4.5M | $14.0M | $853K | — | — |
| 2022 | $5.4M | $4.2M | $14.0M | $766K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $3.9M | $4.4M | $16.7M | $2.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $2.1M | $2.0M | $15.5M | $1.7M | — | — |
| 2019 | $4.5M | $4.6M | $14.2M | $793K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $4.2M | $4.6M | $13.2M | $768K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $4.8M | $4.7M | $14.4M | $807K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $5.3M | $5.1M | $13.8M | $741K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $4.8M | $4.8M | $13.2M | $709K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $5.0M | $3.6M | $13.2M | $581K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $4.4M | $4.3M | $11.6M | $567K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $4.9M | $4.7M | $10.7M | $441K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $3.6M | $3.7M | $10.2M | $482K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $3.8M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $14.0M (revenue -29.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $5.4M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $14.0M (revenue +37.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $3.9M, expenses of $4.4M, and assets of $16.7M (revenue +84.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $2.0M, and assets of $15.5M (revenue -53.4% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $4.5M, expenses of $4.6M, and assets of $14.2M (revenue +8.5% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $4.2M, expenses of $4.6M, and assets of $13.2M (revenue -12.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $4.8M, expenses of $4.7M, and assets of $14.4M (revenue -11.1% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $5.3M, expenses of $5.1M, and assets of $13.8M (revenue +11.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $4.8M, expenses of $4.8M, and assets of $13.2M (revenue -4.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $3.6M, and assets of $13.2M (revenue +12.4% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $4.4M, expenses of $4.3M, and assets of $11.6M (revenue -9.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $4.9M, expenses of $4.7M, and assets of $10.7M (revenue +37.8% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $3.6M, expenses of $3.7M, and assets of $10.2M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Surprise Lake Camp:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Surprise Lake Camp is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.